The Stranger

It is winter night. There is silence at the Tundla railway station. The station has two platforms. And, not a single passenger is visible on any of them. Due to the absence of shade on the platform, the dew drops have kept the entire platform wet. A clock hanging on the platform is clocking 12.30 o'clock. From afar comes the whistling sound of a steam engine. After a while a train comes to a halt at the platform. Only one passenger exits from one bogie of the train. Whose height is about six feet. The body is covered with a khaki colored overcoat, trousers and a cap on the head. While there is a black long boot on the leg and black glasses on the eyes. He holds a briefcase in one hand. He looks like an Englishman. Slowly he comes out of the platform, extending his legs. He sees a rickshaw in the station compound. On reaching near the rickshaw, he sees the rickshaw empty. Looking here and there, he says in his heart, 'Where has this rickshaw driver gone?' Then a man covered in a sheet falls in his sight, who is walking towards him. 

When the man approaches her, he asks him, "Is the rickshaw yours?"

"Yes," he says, shaking his head.  

He removes his glasses from his eyes and says, "Panalu, will you go?"

"Panalu!" The rickshaw puller says with his eyes widening. 

He asks, "Why? What happened? Why are you so surprised?"

Rickshaw puller, “It is far away. It wouldn't have been a problem if it was around. But, I can't go that far on such a night."

He says, "Take double the fare."

He scratches his head for a while. After that he wipes the wet seat with a scrap cloth and gestures to him to sit. He sits on the rickshaw. The rickshaw driver puts a matchstick on the string of a small lantern hanging near the handle. After which the lantern lights up. He gets on the rickshaw while pedaling. 

He asks the rickshaw puller, “In this darkness do you need the light of the lantern? Even without this the road is visible. Then what is the use of burning it?”

The rickshaw puller says, “Sir, this is just an advantage. The one coming from the front can see us. This light will show him that there is a ride in front of him. This will reduce the chances of a collision.”

The man smiles hearing his words. 

He asks, "Are you educated?"

Rickshawala, “Doing BA Hons.”

"Wow! You're still studying." He says in amazement. 

Rickshawala, “I go to the college during the day. After that I study. And, then also earn some money by driving the rickshaw for three to four hours. So that my studies are not interrupted. My father is not alive. Only my mother is in the house. I also have the responsibility of running the house.”

"Okay. If you need a job after you complete college, keep this card of mine. My office address is written on it. Feel free to come." He says while pointing a visiting card towards him. 

The rickshaw puller takes the card by extending his right hand. 

He says, “There is a house ahead. The one with a lamp post. Stop the rickshaw near that house." 

Rickshaw puller, “Yes Sir. Sir, you look like a foreigner. Do you always come here?"

“I definitely come here once a year,” he says.

Rickshaw puller, "Does a relative live here?"

He says, “My mother lives here. I come to meet her."

Rickshaw puller, "Where do you live then?"

There is no reply from the man. After a while the rickshaw puller realizes that the rickshaw has become lighter. He looks back and sees the seat empty. Looking here and there, he calls out Sir…..Sir. But he doesn't get a reply. He stops the rickshaw and looks around for a while. Then he looks at the seat. on which a wallet is kept. Under the seat he sees the briefcase. When he looks inside the wallet, he notices foreign notes inside it. Apart from this, he sees a fifty rupee country note. He stops the rickshaw when he reaches the house. He knocks at the door of the house. An English old lady opens the door. 

She asks the rickshaw puller, "Yes?"

The rickshaw puller reads the name written on the visiting card and asks, “Is this the house of Rijoz Keeneth?”

Woman, "Yes."

“Rijoz sir had come by my rickshaw. But I do not know where he left the rickshaw. This is his briefcase and wallet." He says while moving both the things towards her.

The woman asks, "Do you know him?"

"Yes, he had come with me. This card has also been given by him.” The rickshaw puller says while showing the card. 

The woman asks him to come inside the house. And, showing him some pictures hanging on the wall, she asks, “Who is Rijoz among them?”

Pointing a finger at a picture, in front of which a candle is burning, the rickshaw puller says, "He!".

Woman, "How much is your fare?"

Rickshaw puller, "Fifty rupees."

Woman, “It will be in the wallet. Take it.”

He takes out fifty rupees from the wallet.

Woman, "Now do me a favour, put both the things on the table and you may leave."

He does the same. 

After the rickshaw puller leaves she says, looking at the picture of Rijoz, "You always come here on your death anniversary, but you never come to meet me!”